Does the ISS use MS Windows?

Posted by Mike Lopez under Technology
Mar 2008
02
10:48am


Do you think the International Space Station uses Microsoft Windows for at least some of their computers?  I think they do and I think it’s not a good idea.  I can’t imagine the day that the ISS comes crashing down to earth because of some bug in the Windows Operating System they’re using.

Windows XP Blue Screen of Death

But why do I think that they use Windows for such a huge critical hardware zooming in space orbiting dear planet earth?  Here’s why - Where’s Tech Support in Space?.  After reading the article, I can’t help but assume that the software being mentioned is none other than MS Windows.  The clues mentioned in the article are:

  1. Licensing problems - this is very common on Windows-based machines where sometimes, even legal copies of the operating system pop up the licensing problem error.
  2. Reinstall using a software DVD - software installers requiring an entire DVD to install are most likely to be operating systems.
  3. Blue screen of death - this I would say is the MOST definitive clue.  Wikipedia says that it’s most notable in Microsoft Windows.

Well, I can’t really blame NASA for using Windows up their in space as it is the most common OS amongst desktops in the world BUT I strongly recommend that they add Linux in their astronaut training programs.  After all, we don’t want to see a billion-dollar floating hardware crash to earth because of some bug, trojan or virus, do we?



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